The epic new novel from the internationally acclaimed and best-selling author of 1Q84.

In Killing Commendatore, a thirty-something portrait painter in Tokyo is abandoned by his wife and finds himself holed up in the mountain home of a famous artist, Tomohiko Amada. When he discovers a strange painting in the attic, he unintentionally opens a circle of mysterious circumstances. To close it, he must complete a journey that involves a mysterious ringing bell, a two-foot-high physical manifestation of an Idea, a dapper businessman who lives across the valley, a precocious thirteen-year-old girl, a Nazi assassination attempt during World War II in Vienna, a pit in the woods behind the artist’s home, and an underworld haunted by Double Metaphors.

A tour de force of love and loneliness, war and art – as well as a loving homage to The Great Gatsby – Killing Commendatore is a stunning work of imagination from one of our greatest writers.

Industry Reviews

"[An] overwhelmingly rich novel... Killing Commendatore... will only burnish [Murakami's] reputation, barely rivalled since the days of Dickens, as the living novelist who best combines literary excellence and commercial popularity. *****" -- Leo Robson * Daily Telegraph *"With phenomenal energy and verve... What makes [Murakami's] voice so distinctive, and so captivating, is the mix of precise observation, clarity and deadpan humour... Murakami is a master storyteller and he knows how to keep us hooked" -- Christina Patterson * Sunday Times *"I found it totally gripping with scarcely a dull page, the loose ends enhancing its mystery. An absorbing work by a great writer" -- William Hartston * Daily Express *"It's safe to say that there's no one like Murakami" -- Anthony Cummins * Literary Review *"Written in a simple, readable style that leaves you free to concentrate on the weirdness of the content... There is no other writer able to give us the fix that his unique qualities provide" -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Express *

Loved it!

5

I am a big Murakami fan and this story didn't disappoint. Not my all time favourite of his (maybe that would be wind up bird chronicle or 1Q84....) but I look forward to reading it again after a substantial gap.

Soph

Wilsons Creek

2019-02-27

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If you are a fan of Murakami buy this book

3

I am a serious fan of Haruki Murakami's narrative and of magical realism, and have read most of his latest books. I read Killing Commendatore against a copy of the audio version so I had a double dosage of the story. Double pleasure and also double anxiety when the story lengthened gratuitously. Murakami is a master at developing his characters, although in his latest books, his male protagonists are very much the same: a metrosexual man with enough sensitivity to wander off into other dimensions and come out unscathed. Having said that, I believe this book needs to be read if you are a fan of Murakami and like cats (like me). The upside of the book: a close up of the process of creating and the seamless ability to cross over realities. The downside: a bit too long. What saves this story is that Murakami has such clear writing style that there is no risk in misinterpreting his quirky metaphors and his play with ideas.

Emilia B

Sydney

2018-11-06

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spooky and clever

5

loved this book from start to finish. the story is spooky and beautiful. even the cover makes you stop and think about the book.

ksmudge

WA

2018-11-06

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Dream-like!

5

How can you describe Murakami's dream-like style. I'm always grateful to see another of his books on the shelves - now addicted!